Summary Questions - Complete after going through the lab exercises Complete the following compare contrast table to summarize the key features and characteristics
useful for classifying and differentiating the 4 major plant groups. Note: Sporophyte/Gametophyte
generations can be described as Dominant, Reduced, Dependent, and/or Independent. Other
features can be described present (P) or absent (A). An Asterix (*) can denote some exceptions.
Feature
Non-Vascular
Seedless Vascular
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Sporophyte
Generation
Gametophyte
Generation
Sporopollenin-
walled spores
Vascular
Tissues
Heterospory
Seeds
Cones
Flowers, Fruit​

The correct answer is as follows:

Explanation:

Feature 1. Sporophyte Generation

Non-Vascular: Dependent

Seedless Vascular: Dominant

Gymnosperms: Dominant

Angiosperms: Dominant

Feature 2. Gametophyte Generation

Non-Vascular: Dominant

Seedless Vascular: Independent

Gymnosperms: Independent, reduced

Angiosperms: Independent

Feature 3. Sporopollenin-walled spores

Non-Vascular: Present

Seedless Vascular: present

Gymnosperms: present

Angiosperms: present

Feature 4. Vascular tissue

Non-Vascular: Absent

Seedless Vascular: present

Gymnosperms: present

Angiosperms: present

Feature 5. Heterospory

Non-Vascular: Absent

Seedless Vascular: Present*

Gymnosperms: present

Angiosperms: present

Feature 6. Seeds

Non-Vascular: Absent

Seedless Vascular: Absent

Gymnosperms: present

Angiosperms: present

Feature 7. Cones

Non-Vascular: Absent

Seedless Vascular: Absent

Gymnosperms: present

Angiosperms: present

Feature 8. flowers, fruits

Non-Vascular: Absent

Seedless Vascular: Absent

Gymnosperms: Absent

Angiosperms: present